Lauren Barghols Hanna’s state and federal litigation practice is focused on labor and employment law. As a part of her employment practice, Lauren counsels and represents management exclusively in all phases of the employment relationship, including litigation matters involving discrimination and wrongful discharge claims, claims related to employment agreements, and other disputes arising from the workplace. She also works with employers in crafting appropriate employment policies and procedures, employee handbooks, non-disclosure/non-solicitation agreements, employee severance agreements, and releases.

Lauren’s practice in the area of water rights frequently involves the representation of landowners in obtaining groundwater and streamwater permits for irrigation, oil and gas industry production, and other beneficial uses.

Lauren is a contributing author to the Oklahoma Employment Law Letter and EmployerLINC, and has been interviewed by The Oklahoman, served as a guest legal columnist for The Journal Record business newspaper, and spoken at seminars on a variety of employment-related topics. She also authored the Oklahoma chapter of the LexisNexis Waters and Water Rights treatise.

Lauren’s achievements have earned her inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (labor and employment litigation) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers.

In addition to her legal practice at the firm, she serves as a volunteer attorney for Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, a nonprofit organization that uses the time, talent and resources of qualified pro bono lawyers and others to represent and assist children in various matters, including parental termination jury trials, before the Juvenile Division of the Oklahoma County District Court. In 2014, the Oklahoma CASA Association, Inc. honored Lauren with its “Attorney of the Year” award for her work with OLFC, citing the integrity and consistency with which she represents her young clients.

Representative Experience

Obtained dismissal of wrongful termination suit brought by former human resources manager against a medical practice.

Defended national telecommunications company in collective action litigation, where former employees sought overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for performing certain duties prior to clocking in for the day.

Obtained summary judgment for client company in an ERISA benefits lawsuit where equitable claims of estoppel and surcharge asserted under ERISA Sec. 502(a)(3) were also claimed.

Representation of Oklahoma Department of Tourism in lawsuit by Oklahoma Public Employees Union challenging denial of severance and retirement benefits in reduction-in-force.

Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of an HMO in a case involving allegations of breach of insurance agreement and bad faith for denying a portion of the plaintiff’s out-of-network medical care and treatment.Represented a trustee in state court bench trial involving various claims against trustee for breach of fiduciary duty. Successfully obtained judgment in favor of the trustee.

Represented a national employment services company in an employment arbitration involving claims of wrongful termination based on race/national origin discrimination and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Successfully obtained judgment for the employer on each cause of action.

Represented a title insurance company in a state court trial involving bad faith and breach of contract claims by an insured. Successfully obtained judgment in favor of the title insurance company on all claims.

Obtained declaratory judgment for a realestate developer in a federal court matter involving water rights. In same case, successfully appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals an attempt by a rural water district to remove a pending action to federal court.

Obtained summary judgment for an Oklahoma healthcare entity in a tortious interference claim brought by a former physician.

Represent water rights applicants and permit holders in filing permits, amending permits, and defending streamwater and groundwater applications in front of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.